Chinese Fireworks By Benjamin Milligan

Introduction My name is Benjamin Milligan. Fireworks are Chinese inventions. I think fireworks are cool and I bet you do too, so read my presentation to learn about Chinese fireworks.

What fireworks were made out of! Fireworks where really awesome, but what were they made out of? They were made out of weird things but NO fire involved. They were made out of flammable soil, salt, and gunpowder. But NO FIRE!

Who used fireworks? William Shakespeare used fireworks in the 18 th century. Marco polo was the used fireworks in the 13 th century. And queen Elizabeth used fireworks in the 18 th century too.

Fireworks and holidays! Fireworks where usually set off on some holidays here and there. Fireworks where set off on holiday like the 4 th of July and new years and some other holidays.

Firework and birthdays! Sometimes fireworks where used on special peoples birthdays, like Emperor Qin and other popular people.

How they where used! Fireworks where sometimes used by pulling a string attached to a can and if you pull the string it explodes. Or sometimes they where put in a canon and it would shoot out fireworks.

Sparks colors and exploding! When fireworks exploded sparks and colors came out. When the sparks came out, they would come out in different colors. I bet it was really awesome. When it got set off you had to stay back because it could explode on you.

How they where packed! Sometimes fireworks where packed in cans, put in a gun or put in a canon. Back then in China, they where packed in bamboo.

How Fireworks Were Made Step 1.Reinforce ½ an inch of a thick model rocket tube with many layers of paper and masking tape in order to insure that the tube does not explode. Step 2.Then seal in one side of the tube with about ½ inch of epoxy. Step 3.Poke a hole in the space just above the lowest layer of epoxy. Insert a fuse that fits tightly into the hole and won’t slip in or out of the tube. Step 4. Fill the tube with about 1 inch of gunpowder. Make a ball with a volume ratio of about 60% powder from two six inch sparklers of your desired color and 20% prodded to the top of the gunpowder. Taking the powder of the sparklers can make this ball; the prodded and then slowly added drops of water until it is made into a thick, moldable paste. Step 5.Mold into a ball big enough to fill the tube and let dry. Once, dry slides the ball into the tube. Put a wad of tissue paper on top of the ball into the tube and pack it down gently with a pencil. Step 6.Put the tube in a hole in the ground. Light the fuse and run. There should be a shot of colored fire about thirty feet in the air. There can be variations by adding gunpowder and/or lengthening the tube you use.